Heat treating apparatus



' Nov. 7, 19.44. H. E. SOMES HEAT TREATING APPARATUS s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1940 mm HIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR Howardfl. Some-s ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1944.

H. E. SOMES HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O 2 2 M m 3111 m o o w n 1 1 w V 0 m 2 1 1 1 m a fi z o 2 2 ma H .01 [will I 1111 y, m w p b. M 7% wm l a i In l a w 1111 f I} 41%| 1 it: s Y 0 5 w 9 6 9 I Y B 2 24 1 m 2 A w 5 Z w 1 fl M. 2 6 A g v W 0 0 a O O 0 /o o 0 M 4 fimmfifi fi fifimwxwfi wx Novl 7, 1944. H MES 2,361,976

HEAT TREATIN APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR fibwardfi. $21126 aka 9.711

ATTORNEY work support.

Patented Now 7, 1944 {UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Howard E. Somes, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Budd Induction Heating, Inc., Philadelphia,

Pa., a corporation of Michigan Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,400

to both ends of the workcarried by the work sup- 17 Claims.

This invention relates to heat treating apparatus and more particularly to a novel work support mechanism adapted for progressive operation in conjunction therewith.

In the heat treatment of elongated objects, it is preferable in many instances to heat treat a small zone of the object at a time and progress that zone gradually along the length of the object. The present invention is directed to a fluid pressure system for gradually feeding an object for such progressive treatment and to fluid pressure means for securing such an object in its The present invention constitutes an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in a copending application Serial No. 164,320, ,filed September 17, 1937, now Patent No. 2,281,331,

issued April28, 1942.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fluid pressure feeding device for progressively moving a workpiece during operation thereupon with precision. 7

Another object of ,the invention is to provide a fluid pressure clutching device for rigidly secur The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of they limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended 'claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heat treat machine in which the improvements of the present invention have been incorporated. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the feeding and clutching apparatus partiallyshown in section.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse'section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and Figure 5 is an illustration of a slight modification showing the manner of extending the drive port.

Referring to Figure 1, there will appear a frame l0 having spaced parallel upright side members l2 and H and a top member l6. Depending from the top member l6 and centrally between the frame members l2 and I4 is an electromagnetic induction heat treating head [8, the samebeing supported from the frame I6 through a heavy arbor 20 through which electrical connections are made to the coil, the details of which do not form a part of the present invention. Associated with the heat treat coil in is a quenching nozzle 22 having an annular quenching orifice 24.

Heat treatment of the internal bore of cylindrical'objects such as the cylinder sleeve indicated by the reference character 26 is accomplished by moving the sleeve relative to the heat treating connections 35 and 31 and secured at their free ends upon brackets 38 and 40 mounted at the top and the bottom of the side frames l2 and Hi The table 28 is secured to a cylinder sleeve 42 reciprocable upon the piston 36 and slidable at its ends-upon the piston-rods 32 and 34, the cylinder 42 being provided with cylinder head guide blocks 44 and 46 for this purpose.

To elevate the cylinders 42 upon the guide rods 30 and with reference to the piston 36, fluid pressure lsadmitted into the annular space 48 between the cylinder 44 and the piston rod 32 through the port 50 in the piston 36, the latter being connected to a suitable source of fluid supply'through the pipe line 52. Lowering of the table 28 is accomplished through the introduction of fluid through the pipe 54 and the port 56 in the piston 36, the port 56 emerging below the piston 36 and being adapted to supply fluid to the annular space 58 between the cylinder 42 and piston rod 34.

The table. 28 is provided with a rotatable chucking device 60, the same being centered by a complemental annular groove 62 and ridge 64 arranged upon the table 28 and the rotatable chucking device 60, respectively. The chucking 7 rotation through any suitable means. The receptacle also is provided with radial laminated iron magnetic extension elements 88 to minimize end effects and to assure uniform heat treatment from end to end. The chucking device 80 is rotated through an annular gear positioned adjacent the annular ridge 84 and driven by a drive motor I2 and pinion I4, the motor being supported from a depending integral bracket I8 formed as a part of the table 28.

The upper end of the cylinder sleeve 28 is supported in a similar upper chucking device I8, the same being provided with a chucking receptacle 80, the latter having magnetic end pieces 82. The

chucking device I8 throughthe interengaging annular recess and annular ridge 84 and 88, respectively, is rotatably supported upon the non-rotatable upper chucking support member 88. The member 88 in turn is supported upon a plurality of parallel piston rods 80, the lower ends of which are provided with pistons 82 reciprocable in corresponding cylinders 94 arranged in the table 28, by means of which the member 88 may be moved away from the table 28 to facilitate the insertion or removal of'cylinder sleeves 28 prior to and subsequent to heat treatment.

Beneath the table 28 there is provided a drainage system for thequenching fluid emerging from the nozzle 24, the drainage system comprising a central drain pipe 98, a conical diaphragm 98 at the upper end thereof and a gauging or stop, member I00 to assure proper spacing between the heat treating head and the diaphragm 98. The distance between the heat treating head with the quenching nozzle 24 and the diaphragm 98 restricts the length of the internal wall zone of the sleeve 28 which is subjected to quenching so as to also secure uniformity of treatment. An

ing device I8.

inverted bell-shaped extension I02 having an internal diameter I04 substantially similar to the internal diameter of the cylinder sleeve 28 being pressure through the pipe II8 into the lower end of the cylinder I08 on the underside of the piston II2.

In order to limit the upward and downward movement of the table 28, limit switches I28 and I22 are positioned on the frame member I2 and are adapted to be engaged by the cams I24 and I28, respectively, the cams being adjustably positioned upon the rod I28 extending parallel to and supported from the cylinder heads 44 and 48 of the cylinder -42 through brackets I88 and I82. The limit switches may cut off the flow of fluid to the annular spaces 48 and 88 above and below the piston 88, in any suitable manner, not shown.

Where long sleeves are to be heat treated and the depth of heat treatment considerable so that in the zone undergoing such heat treatment the structure is temporarily materially weakened, it is preferable that the sleeve be rotated from both ends so that no torsional drag or twist will be imposed upon the sleeve while itis undergoing treatment. In order to provide for such operation, a'modified form such as shown in Figure 5 may be employed, the motor I2 being provided in such arrangement with extended splined shaft I84 extending to and through bearings I88 and 'I 38 in the member 88, the splin'ed shaft being provided with a pinion I40 meshing with a gear I42 arranged upon the upper end of the upper chuck- A suitabIe guard I44 around the gear I42 is provided as well as a sleeve extension I48 arranged around the projecting end of the splined shaft I34.

The operation of the apparatus should be clear from the foregoing description. In loading the apparatus with a sleeve 28 it will be understood that the heat treating head I8 with its quench 22 may be retracted upwardly through the operation of the-fluid pressure cylinder I9 a sufllcient distance so as to clear the upper chucking device 'I8 when the table 28 is at the lower end of its movement. If desired, instead of moving the permitted to exhaust through the port 50 and pipe 82 at a uniform rate so as to permit the table 28 to move downwardly with the cylinder sleeve at a uniform rate past the heat treating head I8 and quench 24. At the same time, the inverted bell I02 which is mounted upon a cylinder I08 telescopically arranged about the drain pipe 98 is forced downward with the table 28 against fluid pressure trapped in and ready to be ex-.

hausted from the annular space I08 between the cylinder I08 and the drain pipe 98 and the cylinder head IIO on the end of the cylinder I08 and the piston II2 carried by the drain pipe 98. By the use of air pressure admitted through the pipe II4 to the upper end of the annular space 308, the bell I02 may be held in yielding engagement with the underside of the table 28 through the movement of the table 28 in a downward direction during heat treatment, while return movehead upward through the cylinder I8, the table 28 and drain 88 could be lowered to a point sufficiently below the lower limit of travel during heat treatment to'produce the same effect or resort could be had to movements of both. A sleeve 28 is inserted into the lower chuck 88 and fluid pressure thereafter admitted into the top of the cylinders 94 through the pipe line 88 to bring the upper chucking fixture I8 down upon the upper end of the cylinder sleeve 28 to thereby hold the same rigidly and concentric with the axis of the machine. Thereafter hydraulic liquid is introduced into the annular space 48 between the piston rods 82 and cylinders 42 through the port 80 and pipe 82 to raise the table 28 to the upper end of its limit at which point the limit switch I20 acts to cut off the supply of further liquid. At the same time, the drain bell I84 is raised upon the drain pipe 88 by the introduction nozzle and at the same time hydraulic liquid is ment is provided for by the introduction offluid I8 released from the annular space 48 and driven into the annular space 88 at a prescribed rate to assure a uniform speed of the cylinder sleeve 28 downwardly, and at the same time rotation of the sleeve is effected through energization of the motor I2. Upon the downward stroke approach ing the limit of its movement thelimit switch I22 acts to arrest further movement and to cut rice.

' great.

oil the power from the heating coil l8. After a prescribed dwell periodrotation is stopped, the quenching fluid is cut oil and thereafter fluid pressure is admitted to the lower ends of the cylinders 94 through the pipes 93, thereby separating the chucking devices 18 and 66. Thereupon, by raising the heating head l8 through the actuation of the fluid pressure cylinder l9 or by lowering the table carriage Z8 and drain connection, the cylinder sleeve 26 may be'removed and another added.

In practice, progression of the cylinder during heat treatment takes place at a rate in the order of an inch to two inches per second and through the use of high frequency currents, the heating effect of the coil is limited to a shallow depth dependent upon the power input, the frequency and the rate of movement of progression. It will be observed that the annular spaces 48 and 58 which control the downward movement of the table 28 are relatively small in cross-section so that high hydraulic pressures are required for operation, which pressures, and due to the small quantity of fluid employed, render the apparatus substantially insensitive to changes in viscosity due to temperature changes and further make it easy to regulate the rate of movement by regulating the pressure applied behind'a fixed ori- The pressure, being relatively great, can be accurately controlled.

There has thus been described a novel work supporting mechanism for use in conjunction with apparatus of the class described. The apparatus is capable of accurate operation such as is essential in electromagnetic induction heat treatment and is capable of relatively fast opera tion so that production rates may be relatively Additionally, the apparatu will be seen to be capable of exactly duplicating its operation each time whereby assurance may be had that uniform heat treatment; results are obtained from consecutive and large quantities of workpieces treated by the apparatus.

Although a single modification of the invention with one alternative arrangement thereof has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be.- limited thereto but may be employed in other equivlent mechanical and electrical arrangements and 7 forms. As many changes in construction and arrangement may be made as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heat treating apparatus, airame having spaced upright parallel supports, a heat treat head centrally supported with respect to said supports, a pair of spaced apart parallel piston and guide rod vertically secured to said supports at each end, a piston on said rods interupon each of said rods. a work table secured to said cylinders having a revolvable work holder therein, means carried by the table for rotating said work holder, a second work holder spaced from said table, means for'rovolvably supporting said second holder, and being reciprocably carried by said table, and meansfor supplying fluid to opposite sides of said pistons-to elevate or lower said table.

2. In a heat treating apparatus, having a central aperture therein, a revolvable work support thereon having a central aperture therein adapted to hold one end of a'cylindrical workpiece, a work support adapted to hold the other end of the workpiece, means for revolvably carrying said last mentioned work support, and

' fluid pressure mean for moving the work supports toward and away from one another and conduit means adapted to engage said table from the underside thereof and adapted to cover said table aperture.

3 In a heat treating apparatus, a work table, a revolvable work support thereon adapted to hold one end of a cylindrical workpiece, a work support adapted to hold the other end of the workpiece, means for revolvably carrying said last mentioned work support, a plurality of cylinders arranged in said table around said firstnamed work support, pistons in said cylinders, and piston rods extending. from said pistons to said work support carrying means.

4. In a-heat treating'apparatus, a frame having spaced upright parallel supports, a heat treat head centrally supported with respect to said sup- 1 ports, a pair of spaced apart parallel piston and guide rods vertically secured to said supports at each end, a piston on said rod intermediate the ends thereof, a cylinder reciprocable upon each of said rods, a work table secured to said cylinders having a revolvable work holder therein, a second work holder spaced from said table, means for revolvably supporting said second holder and reciprocably carried by said table,

' means carried by the table for rotating both of said work holders comprising a shaft parallel with the axis of said work holder having a spline thereon and means associated with said second work holder splined upon said rod for rotating said second work holder.

5. In a heat treating apparatus, a frame hav ing spaced upright parallel supports, a heat treat head centrally supported with respect to saidsupports, a pair of spaced apart parallel piston and guide rods vertically secured to said supports at each end, a piston on said rods intermediate the ends thereof, a cylinder reciprocable on each of said rods, a' work table secured to said cylinder having a revolvable work holder therein, said work table and cylinders constituta-pair of spaced apart; parallel piston and guide rods vertically secured to said supports at each mediate the ends thereof, a cylinder reciprocable a work table end, a piston on said rods intermediate the endsthereof, a cylinder reciprocable upon each of said rods, a work table secured tosaid cylinders, a second work holder spaced from said table, and reciprocably carried by said table, and means for supplying fluid to opposite 'sides of said pistons to elevate or lower said table. p

'7. In a heat treating apparatus, a heat treat head, a main'carriage, a second carriage spaced from said main carriage, means for reciprocably supporting said second carriage on said main car- 'riage, means for effecting relative reciprocal movement between said carriages, a pair of spaced work holders, one being supported by one carriage and the other being supported by the other carriageand being arranged to engage and hold the opposite ends of a work piece to be heat treated, said workholders and heat treat head having a common axis, guide'members for guidpistons to elevate ing saidmaln carriage for movement along said common axis, and means for reciprocating said main carriage on said guide members relative to said heat treat head.

8. In a heat treating apparatus, a heat treat head, a main carriage, a second carriage spaced from said main carriage, means for reciprocably supporting said second carriage on said main carriage, means for eflecting relative reciprocal movement between said carriages, a pair of spaced work holders, one being supported by one carriage and the other being supported by the other carriage and being arranged to engage and hold the opposite ends of a workpiece to be heat treated, said workholders and heat treat head having a between said carriages, a pair of spaced work holders, one being supported by one carriage and th other being supported by the other carriage and being arranged to engage and hold the op posite ends of a workpiece to behest treated, said workholders and heat treat head having a common axis, guide members for guiding said main.

carriage for movement along said common axis, means for reciprocating said main carriage on said guide 1 members relative to said heat treat head and means for rotatably supporting said work holders on said carriages, and means carried by one of said carriages for efiecting rotation of at least one of said work holders.

10. In a heat treating apparatus, a heat treat head, a main carriage, a second carriage spaced from said main carriage, means for reciprocably supporting said second carriage on said main carriage, means for effecting relative reciprocal movement between said carriages, a pair of spaced work holders, one being supported by one carriage and the other being suDDQrted by the other carriage and being arranged to engage and hold the opposite ends of a workpiece to be. heat treated, said workholders and heat treat head having a common axis,guide members for guiding said main carriage for movement along said common axis, means for reciprocating said main carriage on said guide members relative to said heat treat head and means for rotatably supporting said work holders on said carriages, and means for effecting rotation of both said work holders.

11. In a heat treating apparatus, a heat treat head, a main carriage, a second carriage spaced from said main carriage, means for reciprocably supporting said second carriage on said main carriage, a pair of spaced work holders, one being supported by one carriage and the other being supported by the other carriage and being arranged to engage and hold the opposite ends of a workpiece to be heat treated, said workholders' and heat treat head having a common axis, guide members for guiding said main carriage for movement along said common axis, means for reciprocating said-main carriage on said guide members relative to said heat treat head and means for rotatably supporting said work holders On said carriages, and means for eflecting rotation of asap-1e both said work holders, said last-mentioned means including a gear set associated with each of said work holders, and a driving motor carried by on of said carriages having a shaft tor driving said gear sets, said shaft having an axially slidable connection with the gear set of the other 01' said carriages.

12. In a heat treating apparatus, a heat treat head. a pair of spaced carriages, each having a work support, said work supports and heat treat headhaving a common axis and said work supports being engageable with the opposite ends of a workpiece to be heat treated, a plurality of guide rods extending from one of said carriages, a plurality of cylinder members carried by the other of said carriages in coaxial guiding relation with said guide rods, said guide rods and cylinders lbeing parallel to said common axis, fluid pressure means associated with said cylinders for eflecting relative reciprocable movement between said carriages, a irame member, coaxial slidably engaged cylinder and guide rod members carried by said frame member and one 0! said carriages and having their axes parallel to said common axis, and fluid pressure means associated with said last named cylinders for eflecting reciproeating movement of said carriages as a unit relative to said heat treat head.

13. In a heat treating apparatus, a heat treat head, a main carriage, a second carriage spaced from said main carriage, means for supporting said carriages for relative movement toward and irom each other, means for effecting relative reciprocal movement between said carriages, a work holder mounted on each carriage arranged to engage and hold the opposite ends of a workpiece to be heat treated, said work holders and heat treat head having a common axis, and means for reciprocating said carriages and a workpiece supported therebetween along said common axis relative to said heat treat head.

14. In a heat treating apparatus, a heat treat head, a main carriage, a second carriage spaced from said main carriage, means for supporting said carriages for relative movement toward and from each other, means for effecting relative reciprocal movement between said carriages, a work holder mounted on each carriage arranged to engage and holdthe opposite ends of a workpiece to be heattreated, said work holders and heat treat head having a common axis, means for guid ing said main carriage for movement along said common axis, and means for reciprocating said main carriage relative to said heat treat head.

15.In a heat treat apparatus, a heat treat head, a piston and guide rod associated with said head, a piston on said rod intermediate the ends thereof, a cylinder surrounding said piston and reciprocable upon said rod, a main carriage secured to said cylinder for movement therewith, a work holder mounted thereon, a second carrlage mounted for movement relative to said first carriage, a second work holder mounted thereon, and means connecting said carriages for simultaneous movement relative to said heat treat head.

16. In a heat treating apparatus, a frame, a heat treat head supported from said frame, a main support, a second support axially spaced from said main support, means supporting said supports for relative reciprocal movement toward and away from each other in the axial direction of said heat treat head, a work holder carried by each oi said main and second supp rts to engage and hold the opposite ends of a workpiece guide rod parts, one of which has a. piston inter-" mediate the ends thereof and cooperabie with the other part, a supporting frame, means rigidly securing one of the corresponding parts of each 01' said motors to said frame, a first work support rigidly secured to the other corresponding parts of said motors, a second work supp t spaced from said first work support, said work supports being arranged to engage the opposite ends of an elongated workpiece, means reciprocably supporting said second support relative to said first support, a heat treat head centrally supported on said frame intermediate said motors in axial alignment with said supports, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motors to effect reciprocation of said supports and a. workpiece supported therebetween axially relative to said heat treat head.

HOWARD E. SOMES. 

